PCB left red-faced over compensation claim from BCCI

Karachi, Oct 22 (PTI) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
has found itself in an embarrassing position over its plans to
seek compensation from the BCCI for not honouring the MOU
signed between the two countries to play six bilateral series
between 2015 and 2023.

Former chairman Shaharyar Khan left the PCB in a awkward
position when he told the media in Lahore this week that
Pakistan had a weak case against the BCCI and was unlikely to
get compensation.

He said that Pakistan’s case was weak since the MOU
contained a clause that all series between the two countries
will be subject to government clearance.

The BCCI has constantly maintained that it can’t play
Pakistan until its government gives clearance for bilateral
cricket.

Ironically it was during Shaharyar’s tenure few months
ago that the PCB’s board of governors had approved filing the
compensation claim with the ICC’s disputes resolution
committee and also seeking USD 70 million in compensation.

Shaharyar and the BOG also approved USD 1 million to
cover the legal expenses involved in filing and contesting the
case.

Soon after Shaharyar’s comments were carried by the
media, the PCB apparently put pressure on the former Chairman
to change his stance with present chairman Najam Sethi also
tweeting a clarification from his predecessor denying that he
ever said Pakistan’s case against India was weak.

Shaharyar issued a signed statement in which he said: "I
strongly deny a statement attributed to me in the media in
which I am supposed to have said that the PCB’s case against
the BCCI is weak.

"How could I say such a thing when, in fact, as Chairman
and with the approval of the PCB's Board of Governors, I
authorised preparation of a case on the advice of PCB’s
lawyers and a prominent QC in the UK who agreed that PCB had a
strong case against India.

"The media must not distort my remarks and hurt the
position of the PCB," said Shaharyar.

But worse was to come for the PCB when video footage was
aired by TV channels and put on the social media in which
Shaharyar is saying that in some aspects the PCB case for
compensation is weak.

"Because there is written (in the MoU) that the series
will be held with the approval of both the governments (India
and Pakistan), and they (BCCI) can cite that and say we can’t
come as our government is not giving us the NoC